Hollow bearing ball and process for making them

ABSTRACT

A hollow bearing ball formed from a relatively resilient steel by initially stamping a round blank from a strip, drawing the blank, and forging and flowing the drawn blank of metal to subsequently form a substantially hemispherical portion of a hollow bearing ball. The hemispherical portions are fed into a hopper which serve to place them in opposed concave relationship after which they are interposed within and between two electrode welding seats which hold the hemispherical portions under pressure and weld them to form a hollow bearing ball.

nited States Patent [15] 3,660,880 Glenn May 9, 1972 s41 HOLLOW BEARINGBALL AND 2,682,700 7/1954 Simoneau ..29/14s.4 a

PROCESS FOR MAKING THEM Primary ExaminerTh0mas H. Eager [72] Inventor:Edward R. Glenn, Newport Beach, Calif. Anomey qeorge Bethe] [22] Filed:Mar. 27, 1970 1 ABSTRACT [21] Appl 23218 A hollow bearing ball formedfrom a relatively resilient steel by initially stamping a round blankfrom a strip, drawing the [52] U.S. Cl ..29/l48.4 B, 29/201, 29/463blank, and orging and flowing the drawn blank of metal to [51] Int. Cl...B23p 11/00, B23p 19/04, B2ld 39/02 subsequently form a substantiallyhemispherical portion of a [58] Field of Search ..29/14s.4 B, l48.4,201, 463 hollow bearing ball- The hemispherical PortionS are fed into ahopper which serve to place them in opposed concave rela- R f d tionshipafter which they are interposed within and between [56] e erences I etwo electrode welding seats which hold the hemispherical por- UNITEDSTATES PATENTS tions under pressure and weld them to form a hollowbearing ball. 1,591,372 7/1926 Gatvert et al 29/l48.4 B 2,l77,92810/1939 Knudsen ..29/l48.4 B X 11 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 0 2 28 "ll11 l 8 as 62 W PATE'HIEDHM 9 1972 SHEET 3 OF 3 Q: l: l?

FIG. 7

INVENTOR.

EDWARD R GLENN IIOLLOW BEARING BALL AND PROCESS FOR MAKING THEMBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionlies within the bearing ball art and the process of making such balls.

2. Description of the Prior Art Hollow metal balls have beenmanufactured in the past for various purposes. However, it is thoughtthat the hollow bearing balls of this particular invention are of a newand novel type and that the process of making the bearing balls iscompletely different.

As can be appreciated, when ballbearings are utilized in high speedoperation they have a substantial amount of inertia. Furthermore, theheavy weight of such ballbearings due to density has limitedthe'application of solid ballbean'ngs. In current aircraft engines, theballbearings add a significant amount of weight. Thus, if a hollowbearing ball could be fashioned in a suitable and inexpensive manner, aweight factor in a plane could be eliminated which now exists. It isestimated that in some planes, a savings of upwards of 300 pounds couldbe effectuated by the use of the hollow bearing ball of this invention.

As can be appreciated, when substantial inertial forces are incurred bysolid ballbearings, substantial amounts of stress are placed on thebearing races. Bearing races are usually made from a light metal inorder to effectuate smooth movement of the bearing balls in the races,as well as limiting inertia when the balls are in rotational movementwith respect to a shaft or journal. This invention overcomes thedeficiency of solid bearing balls with respect to inertial drag and thelimitation of stress on the bearing races.

Although ballbearings are not known as substantial drag elements in anoverall mechanical system because of the fact that they are utilized forfree rotational movement of a shaft therein, it can be appreciated thatthe greater the weight of a solid ball with respect to a hollow ball thegreater the friction. In other words, frictional forces are a factor ofthe weight of an object as well as the coefficient of friction. Thecoefficient of friction of a hollow bearing ball does not change to anysigniflcant degree in comparison with a solid bearing ball.Nevertheless, the comparative mass between the two changes the overallfrictional drag of each respective bearing ball. This invention hasovercome many of the frictional drag drawbacks of prior art bearings byproviding a freely moving hollow bearing ball of less weight.

In summation, with respect to hollow bearing balls as opposed to solidbearing balls, it can be stated that the prior art of solid bearingballs has been substantially improved upon by this invention by reducingfriction, drag, inertia, stresses and overall weight.

There have been attempts at making substantially hollow balls having asubstantial degree of strength. These attempts have usually involvedmachining two substantially formed hemispheres, and then welding thehemispheres into a completed sphere. This technique has been costly andinadequate because of the requirement that the concavities of thehemispheres-be machined along with the outside surfaces thereof. Thisinvention overcomes the requirement of the foregoing machiningoperations.

The machining of a metallic object does not relieve all the stresses andcreate the correct geometrical strength relation ships required in thesurface of a high strength sphere used for a bearing ball. When themachining of a ball is performed, it does not account for the differentslip planes and other characteristics of the metal which is inherent inthe original formation of the metal, prior to machining.

This invention has overcome the deficiencies of the prior art machiningmethods by forming a pair of hemispheres for a sphere in a desirablemetallurgical manner and then welding them together.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In summation, this invention comprises a newand novel ballbearing and process for making a high strength bearingball.

Specifically, the new and novel bearing ball is one which has beenformed from a resilient metal stamped into a pair of substantiallyformed concave hemispheres. The hemispheres are additionally formed bydrawing and forging to enhance their strength characteristics. After theprior additional formation, the hemispheres are welded with theconcavities thereof in juxtaposed relationship. The end product isdevoid of foreign welding material and is comprised of a homogeneousmass of metal.

The method for welding and holding the two substantially formedhemispheres in opposite concave relationship is provided by a continuousfeeding, seating and welding process. The seating is sequenced toprovide for the receipt of two hemispheres in concave opposedrelationship, within two opposing seats with their edges in opposedrelationship prior to welding. After the edges of the hemispheres arebrought together in opposed relationship, the surfaces thereof areplaced under contacting pressure and welded. No additional metal isutilized; solely the metal of each respective hemisphere, therebyavoiding variances in metallic formation and character.

The foregoing cycle can be accomplished within one second intervals toprovide a continual feeding, seating and welding of the substantiallyformed hemispheres into a bearing ball, thus providing a highlyefficient and automated formation of the bearing ball.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a portion ofthe die and forming apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the male and female die of this inventionas the female die is sectioned along line 2-2 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the male and female die as the female dieis sectioned along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partially sectioned plan view of apparatus for practicingthis invention;

FIG. 5 is a partially sectioned side view along line 5-5 of FIG. 4showing apparatus for practicing this invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectioned view toward line 6-6 of FIG. 5 showing a detailedview of the feed and hemisphere seating and welding apparatus of thisinvention;

FIG. 7 is a portion of the same sectional view of FIG. 3 taken at adifferent moment in time; and,

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the circuitry of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 7 relateparticularly to the formation of substantially formed hemispheres to besubsequently formed into bearing balls. The process and apparatus forforming the hemispheres initially starts with a strip of resilient metal10. The metal can be a spring type of steel such as SAE 1095 which hasan equivalent carbon content as SAE 52100.

The metal strip 10 is passed over a plurality of female dies formed intoa die base 12. The die base 12 incorporates 6 female dies 14 and isprovided rotational movement at a centerpost 16. The entire structure isplaced upon a base support means 18 having apparatus incorporatedthereunder which shall be discussed. The female dies 14 are equallyspaced around the periphery of the die base 12. The die base 12 isactuated for rotational movement to equally index each one of the femaledies circumferential around the pin 16 in a consistent circumferentialmovement thereof.

The strip of metal 10 is shown having a plurality of holes 20 punchedout of the metal. This has been effectively accomplished by the stampingoperation taking place within the female die just previous to the holes20 as shown in overlying dotted relationship at the station indicated bynumeral 22.

The stamping is accomplished in combination with the female die base 12and dies 14 by a male die support 24. The male die support 24 has aplurality of male dies affixed thereto and moves vertically in overlyingrelationship with the female die base 12. Thus, as the female die base12 moves, it cooperates with the male die holder 24 to effectively stampand process the hemispheres, as each female die 14 respectively movesbeneath it.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the male die support 24 as sectioned alongline 22 of FIG. 1 is provided with a male die 26 which stamps a blankfrom the sheet of metal 10 at station 22. The male die 26 moves into thefemale die 14 which has been formed by virtue of an insert 28 in thefemale die base 12. The male die 26 is provided with a raised portion 30to effectively dimple a blank of stamped metal 32 with a concavity 34and an annular outer portion 36.

As the female die base 12 rotates it is indexed under a male drawing die38. The male drawing die 38 drives the blank of metal 32 down into thefemale die insert 28 at station 40. The male die portion 38 is formedwith a convex rounded portion 42 of a cylinder 44. As the convex roundedportion 42 drives the blank 32 downwardly into the die insert 28, iteffectively draws the metal into a hemisphere in a rough draw operation.The rough draw is not sufficient to drive the hemisphere completelythrough the die insert 28. Thus, the blank 32 is drawn into a roughhemisphere and carried around to a subsequent processing operation, tobe described.

After the blank 32 has been drawn into a rough hemisphere the female diebase 12 is indexed for placement under a forging head in the form of amale die 46 having a cylindrical portion 48 terminating in a convexhemisphere S with an annular ledge 52 therearound between the point oftermination of the cylinder 46 and the convex hemisphere 50. The convexhemisphere 50 drives the blank 32 which has been rough drawn downwardlyfurther into the female die insert 28. The female die insert 28 moves inoverlying relationship to a forging die block 46 which has a concavity48 therein for the receipt of the drawn blank 32. The drawn blank 32 isdriven down into the forging die block 46 by virtue of the rounded endportion 50 pushing the blank thereinto.

To effectuate the foregoing operation, the forging die block 46 is movedupwardly under the female die insert 28 when the support 12 is movedthereover at station 54, with the blank 32. To move the forging dieblock 46 into the insert 28, the block is cammed upwardly by virtue ofthe action ofa camming rod 56 which is actuated for longitudinalmovement at a connection point 58. The camming rod 56 has an inclinedsurface 60 which serves to drive against the base of the forging dieblock 46 when it is moved forwardly as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7. Uponretraction of the camming rod 56 the interior camming surface 62operates to move against the interior of the base of the die blockinsert 46 so that it is pulled downwardly until the planar holdingsurface 64 of the camming rod overlies the interior bore of the forgingdie block.

Specifically, the forging die block 46 has a passage 66 in surroundingrelationship with the respective exterior and interior cam surfaces 66and 62 so that the camming rod 56 can move in longitudinal relationshiptherein. The interior of the forging die block has a sloping surface 68corresponding to the interior cam surface 62 for camming it downwardly.The interior of the forging die block 46 has a sloping surface 70 forupward camming action of the interior of the forging die block bymovement against the exterior camming surface 66. As can be seen in FIG.7 the interior camming surface 62 of the rod 56 pulls the interior ofthe forging die block 46 downwardly toward the end of the rod stroke.This action removes the forging block 46 from the female die carrier 12,so that it can then rotate to station 80.

The action which takes place at station 54 is generally one of a forgingand flowing action of the metal blank 32. The flowing action forges theblank to a high density and stabilizes stresses by flowing the metalinto a desirably formed hemisphere. If the metal were not flowed andforged, the original rolling stresses and stresses stemming from thedraw which take place at station 40 would still be inherent within theblank 32.

The station 22 as previously described provides the blank with a dimpleor concavity 34 by virtue of the action of the blank stamping male die26. The blank stamping male die 26 serves to precondition and preformthe blank 32 by virtue of the convex section 30 that forms the concavity34 within the blank. It is the combination of the forming of theconcavity, the drawing and specifically the forging which makes the highquality bearing ball of this invention.

As previously stated, subsequent to the forging and flowing operation atstation 54 the female die base 12 is indexed to station 80. Stationunderlies a male die 82 formed as a cylindrical section 84 terminatingin a flattened end portion 86 overlying the blank 32 which has beenformed into a hemisphere 88. The flattened end portion 86 drives downand pushes the hemisphere 88 which has been formed from the blank 32outwardly for future use. At this stage of the operation a well formedhemisphere 88 is provided having the necessary strength requirements forfuture formation as a sphere, with another hemisphere. The hemispheres88 are then cleaned and removed of any extraneous materials in asubsequent operation which can be performed by any standard metalcleaning operation.

After the parts are cleaned they are placed in a hopper which can be ofany suitable configuration known in the art but has been shown forpurposes of explanation as that of FIG. 6 having funnel shaped sidewalls 90. The desired end result is that the hemispheres 88 be placed indiscrete concave opposite adjacent relationship by virtue of a dividerwall 92 separating the hemispheres. The hopper should effectively placethe hemispheres 88 in juxtaposed relationship as they move into the neck94 of the funnel. The adjacent concave relationship of the hemispheres88 allows them to move to a point where they can be subsequently fedinto a welding operation.

The neck 94 of the hopper feeds the hemispheres 88 into an area adjacentelectrodes 96. The electrodes 96 cooperate effectively to hold thehemispheres 88 in opposed concave adjacent relationship. The electrodes96 draw apart in a manner to be described and are fed the hemispheres inthe concave adjacent relationship by a loading finger 98 which serves tofeed the hemispheres 88 in a sequential manner. The loading finger 98 isdriven by a loading finger connector 100 which serves to drive'theloading finger forwardly for receipt of the hemispheres 88. Thehemispheres 88 drop down onto a ledge 10] of the loading finger 98between surrounding walls 102. The walls 102 serve to hold thehemispheres 88 with the aid of a magnetized concave surface of a member104 having a similar curvature to the outside circumference of thehemispheres 88. The magnet 104 serves to hold the hemispheres 88 inadjacent relationship to each other in a position suitable forsubsequent welding operations. The hemispheres 88 are fed to the fingerin a separated condition by the wall 92 and held apart from each otherby virtue of a fin 106 which serves to hold the hemispheres 88 apartafter they have been fed through the neck of the funnel 94. In otherwords the fin 106 acts as a further extension of the wall 92 so thatwhen the hemispheres are dropped from the funnel 94 in dividedrelationship on either side of the wall the fin 106 extends the wall toaccommodate the proper feeding of the hemispheres to the electrodes 96.

The electrodes 96 are formed with two partially concave hemisphericalseats 108 for the receipt of the hemispheres 88. The electrodes 96 areheld by retainer clamps 110 which hold the electrodes 96 in clampedinsulated relationship with insulating material 112 between the clampand the electrode. The entire assembly is secured by the appendages 111of the retainer clamps 110 with bolts 114 in tightened relationship withthe appendages of the retainer clamps so that they clamp the insulatingmaterial 112 over the electrodes 96, in addition to holding theelectrodes.

The retainer clamps 110 secure the electrodes 96 and are in turn securedto connectors 116 which are attached to a pair of arms 118. The arms 118are respectively connected to and pivoted on rotatable support cylinders120 which are journaled at the respectively reduced ends 121 thereofinto main upper and lower frames, respectively 122 and 123. The frames122 and 123 serve to support the arms so that they may be moved aboutthe axis on which they are journaled. The main frames 122 can be formedin any suitable manner so long as they are capable of supporting notonly the rotatable support cylinders 120 to which the arms 118 areattached but also the other apparatus journaled and/or connected theretowhich shall be discussed.

The arms 118 are provided with arcuate movement by virtue of beingconnected to the rotatable support cylinders 120 which have thepreviously referred to tapered ends 121. The arms 118 are caused torotate in a radial manner around the rotatable support cylinders 121.The arms are held in an interior position prior to outward radialmovement by virtue of a spring and shackle system 124. The spring andshackle system 124 comprises a pair of bolts 126 and 128. The bolt 126is secured outside an arm 118 at one end by a nut 130 and at the otherend is internally secured within a spring 132 having an internalsecuring means for holding the bolt therein. The bolt 128 is alsosecured within the spring 132 in distal relationship from the head whichis the only exposed portion of the bolt. As the arms 118 move radiallyoutwardly, they tend to pull against the compressive tensile loadingprovided by the spring 132. The compressive tensile force of the spring132 is overcome by a rotational camming drive system which shall beexplained.

The rotational camming drive system previously mentioned is driven by adrive wheel 136 which can be turned by any suitable belt driving motorto drive a belt seated within a groove 138 in the driving wheel. Thedriving wheel 136 is supported on a shaft 140 which is journaled forsmooth rotational movement within the frames 122 and 123. The shaft 140has a pair of clamping collars 142 and 144 surrounding the shaft to holdthe driving wheel 136 in fixed position on the shaft 140. The shaft 140supports a pair of carns 146 and 148 which are connected to a camsupport member 150 which is in turn connected to the shaft. Attached tothe arms 118 interiorly thereof are a pair of plates 152 secured theretoby a pair of bolts 154 and 156 for receiving the force of the cammingaction provided by the cams 146 and 148. The foregoing force serves toactuate the arms 118 in an outward manner under the tension of thespring 132.

The shaft has a cam 158 attached to it with a cover 160 thereover and isattached to the shaft 140 by means of collars 162 and 164. The collars162 and 164 secure the cam 158 so that as the cam 158 rotates any objectwithin a groove 166 will follow the camsmovement. The groove 166 as canbe seen is provided by virtue of the overlying edge flange 168 of thecam cover 160 which circumscribes the cam 158. Internally of the groove166 a roller 170 is placed which is attached to an arm 172. The roller170 is attached by means of a connecting pin 174 so that it canrotatably move within the groove 166 to follow the action of the cam158. As the cam rotates, the arm 172 which is formed as a portion of theloading finger connector 100 moves backwardly and forwardly within apair of guides 176 secured by bolts 178 to the frame 123. Thus, uponrotation of the shaft 140 the cam 158 operates to move the loadingfinger connector 100 back and forth by the movement of the arm 172 androller 170 actuated by the cam.

In order to effectively operate the welding apparatus of this invention,a transformer generally shown as a box 180 is provided with connectionbars 182 extending therefrom. The connection bars 182 are in turnconnected electrically by means of flexible metal straps 184 to aportion of the electrodes 96. The straps 184 are bolted to theconnection bars 182 by bolts 186 and to the electrodes 96 by bolts 188.

The electrodes 96 are supplied with a suitable electrical current forwelding purposes by the transformer 1811 providing a current through theconnection bars 182. The switching on of the current is performed by acam 190 which turns on the shaft 140 so that it actuates a switch 192having a cam follower 194 for movement when the cam turns against it.The switch 192 which is operated by the cam follower 194 is connected toa power source shown in FIG. 6 and a variable generator which suppliesthe transformer 181) for rendering a current to the electrodes 96.

The electrodes 96 are spaced apart for receipt of the hemisphericalportions 88 which form the bearing balls of this invention by a spacerwhich shall be described. The spacer comprises an internally threadedcylinder 200 which has an externally threaded member 202 threadedtherein. The externally threaded member 202 rotatably seats within theinternally threaded member 201) and is provided with a knurled wheel 204which has a pad 286 on the surface thereof. The pad 206 moves against anarm 118 to space that arm from its opposing arm. The internally threadedmember 200 is affixed to the opposing arm 118 so that as the knurledknob is rotated for movement of the pad 206 against the opposite arm 118it provides a jackscrew adjustment for spacing of the arms.

In order to operate the apparatus it can be connected electrically to a240 volt 60 cycle line across terminals shown in FIG. 6'by a three poleswitch 126. A motor 232 is connected across the line for volt operation.The motor 232 is connected by the drive wheel 136 to the shaft andserves to provide the mechanical power as well as the switchingfunctions necessary to cause the apparatus hereof to function.

The motor is controlled by a switch 234 which is placed across the 120volt line source. The cam operated switch 192 is shown connected acrossthe line for operation of a relay 236, which is generally shown inschematic form. The relay 236 serves to cause the transformer toeffectively provide a current through the electrodes schematicllay shownat 96 in FIG. 6 with a pair of hemispheres 88 shown therebetween. Thetransformer 180 is provided with the proper power level by a variablegenerator 238, or any other suitable means to provide power across thelines of the transformer. In order to control the proper level of thepower across the transformer 180, a volt meter 240 is placed across theline so that the proper electrical current is delivered to theelectrodes 96 for welding the hemispheres 88.

In operation, the main line switch provided by the switch 226 is thrown.The circuit is now live and the only thing necessary to start theoperation of the apparatus is turning on the control power switch 234 tocause the motor 232 to turn. As the motor 232 turns, the hemispheres 88are fed downwardly toward the feeding finger 98 and into the electrodes96. The switch 192 which is operated by the cam serves to operate therelay 236 for energizing the electrodes 96 each time the hemispheres 88are in juxtaposition between the electrodes, thus causing thehemispheres to be welded.

One of the key features of this invention is that during the weldingprocess no foreign metal is introduced to form the hemispheres 88 into abearing ball. The weld is performed by the flow of metal between eachrespective hemisphere 88 to the other in a fusion process. Such a weldcauses not only a uniformity of metal at the weld point, but also adegree of uniformity throughout the finished product. The finishedproduct therefore provides a substantially homogeneous hollow bearingball without layers of varying types of metal.

AFter the electrodes 96 have welded the hemispheres 88 into a sphere,they are dropped by virtue of the electrodes separating. The spheresdrop into a receiving chute 150. The receiving chute 150 is connected toa hopper or other suitable means for collecting the spheres 102. Afterthe spheres 102 have been passed from the chute 150 into a hopper orother suitable receiver, they are then polished to a high degree forpurposes of effectuating a relatively smooth and friction free bearingball.

The foregoing specification clearly defines specific embodimentsincorporating the invention hereof, however, the invention as to itsbreadth and scope is only to be read and defined in light of thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for forming a substantially formed hemisphere from a sheetof metal comprising:

a female die;

a male die for punching a rounded blank from a strip of metal incooperation with said female die;

a male die for drawing the rounded blank of metal subsequent to thepunching operation into a substantially hemispherical configuration incooperation with a female die;

a male die forging the drawn metal blank in cooperation with a femaledie; and

means for relative movement of said male dies with respect to saidfemale die for respectively punching, drawing and forging the metal insitu within said female die.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said male punching diefurther comprises:

a raised portion on the surface thereof for effectively creating aconcavity at the point where said male die strikes the punched metal.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further comprising:

a plurality of female dies and means for effecting relative movement ofthe female dies with respect to said stamping, drawing and forging diesto provide a sequence of male die operations sequentially with thefemale dies.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further comprising:

a second female die for underlying placement beneath said first femaledie to provide a contiguous die form with said first female die whereinsaid male forging die moves into said first female die to forge at leastpartially within said second female die.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further comprising:

means for relative movement of a strip of sheet metal to be punched andformed into a hemisphere within each respective female die.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further comprising:

a plurality of female dies;

means for rotating the plurality of female dies; and

means for combined actuation of said male dies in vertical overlyingrelationship with said female dies.

7. A process for forming a substantially hemispherical objectcomprising:

punching a substantially rounded blank from a piece of metal;

drawing said rounded metal blank to provide a substantial depressiontherein; and

forging said metal blank into a substantially hemispherical object.

8. A process as claimed in claim 7 further comprising:

flowing the metal simultaneously during the forging process into a diewhile it is being forged.

9. A process as claimed in claim 7 further comprising:

punching on a sequential basis a blank of metal prior to drawing andforging the metal.

10. A process as claimed in claim 9 further comprising:

dimpling said metal blank while simultaneously punching the blank from asheet of metal.

11. A process as claimed in claim 10 further comprising:

flowing the metal after it is drawn into a female die by substantialcompressive factors created by a male die.

k t l i

1. Apparatus for forming a substantially formed hemisphere from a sheetof metal comprising: a female die; a male die for punching a roundedblank from a strip of metal in cooperation with said female die; a maledie for drawing the rounded blank of metal subsequent to the punchingoperation into a substantially hemispherical configuration incooperation with a female die; a male die forging the drawn metal blankin cooperation with a female die; and means for relative movement ofsaid male dies with respect to said female die for respectivelypunching, drawing and forging the metal in situ within said female die.2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said male punching diefurther comprises: a raised portion on the surface thereof foreffectively creating a concavity at the point where said male diestrikes the punched metal.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 furthercomprising: a plurality of female dies and means for effecting relativemovement of the female dies with respect to said stamping, drawing andforging dies to provide a sequence of male die operations sequentiallywith the female dies.
 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 furthercomprising: a second female die for underlying placement beneath saidfirst female die to provide a contiguous die form with said first femaledie wherein said male forging die moves into said first female die toforge at least partially within said second female die.
 5. Apparatus asclaimed in claim 2 further comprising: means for relative movement of astrip of sheet metal to be punched and formed into a hemisphere withineach respective female die.
 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 furthercomprising: a plurality of female dies; means for rotating the pluralityof female dies; and means for combined actuation of said male dies invertical overlying relationship with said female dies.
 7. A process forforming a substantially hemispherical object comprising: punching asubstantially rounded blank from a piece of metal; drawing said roundedmetal blank to provide a substantial depression therein; and forgingsaid metal blank iNto a substantially hemispherical object.
 8. A processas claimed in claim 7 further comprising: flowing the metalsimultaneously during the forging process into a die while it is beingforged.
 9. A process as claimed in claim 7 further comprising: punchingon a sequential basis a blank of metal prior to drawing and forging themetal.
 10. A process as claimed in claim 9 further comprising: dimplingsaid metal blank while simultaneously punching the blank from a sheet ofmetal.
 11. A process as claimed in claim 10 further comprising: flowingthe metal after it is drawn into a female die by substantial compressivefactors created by a male die.